Panel to review investigations into fire aboard USS Miami

Published July 04. 2012 12:01AM

The Navy has established a panel to review the investigations into the USS Miami fire. The panel will "consolidate these reports, identify causal factors that may run concurrently through the investigations and provide a detailed understanding that ensures that every step possible is taken to learn from this fire and that all involved are better prepared to prevent something similar in our future," according to a statement Tuesday from U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

The Groton-based Miami (SSN 755) was in a dry dock at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for maintenance and upgrades when it caught fire May 23. Preliminary findings show that the fire, which caused more than $400 million in damages to the submarine, started in the vacuum cleaner used to clean the work site at the end of a shift. The repairs will involve multiple organizations, according to the command, so the panel will also assess whether the correct organizations have been brought together "to restore Miami as soon and completely as possible." The panel will report to the fleet commander every 30 days.